‘Best moment of my life’- Kurt Walker basks in glow of European Games gold
Kurt Walker believes ‘the best moment of his life’ proves just how much he has progressed as a boxer and a man.
The Canal BC stylist claimed European Games gold in Minsk on Sunday morning and stressed the achievement proves his progression.
The European Championship bronze and Commonwealth silver medal winner, who will now be heavily tipped rather than just heavily fancied to medal in Tokyo, fell at the first hurdle on day one of the same competition back in 2015.
He was also white washed by Ukranian Mykola Butsenko, whom he beat in Sunday’s decider, in a European Championship semi final two years ago.Â
Amhrán na bhFiann proudly plays at #Minsk2019 as Kurt Walker is presented with his Gold Medal for @TeamIreland #TeamIreland pic.twitter.com/uvX7dsivkn
— eir Sport (@eirSport) June 30, 2019
The 24 year old put in a brilliant performance to beat the Rio Olympian, world and two time European medal winner just two days after he outscored another decorated amateur and #1 seed  Peter McGrai in the last four.Â
All of which Walker points out is proof of how much he has improved and matured, which bodes well heading into the final stages of the current Olympic cycle.
“Two years ago in the European Championships, he beat me in the semi-final 5-0. It shows that I’ve grown so much as a boxer and as a man. It’s good to see hard work paying off,” explained Walker before heralding the victory.Â
“It’s the best moment in my life, 100 per cent, by a mile.”
“He was very tough, he’s been about. This was his third European final so he’s very experienced and he kept coming and coming, so I’m just glad I was able to fight through it.”
The best moment in the Antrim man’s life came due potentially the best performance of his life. Walker was outstanding particularly in the opening round against the decorated Ukrainian and he heaped praise on the Irish coaches Zaur Antia, John Conlan and Dmitry Dimitruk for a game plan that helped him perform.
“The coaches need so much credit. The gameplan was unbelievable.
“I knew it was working. I came back after the first round and they were buzzing. They’re never usually like that. Usually they’re asking me to do more and more, but they were buzzing.”
“I came here and believed I could win gold, but for it to actually happen is on a different level. It really is.”
WATCH:
The third and final round in full as Kurt Walker won GOLD for @TeamIreland at the European Games. #TeamIreland #Minsky2019 pic.twitter.com/fgGjrYRK75
— eir Sport (@eirSport) June 30, 2019
Following the conclusion of the boxing tournament Ireland will take home bronze from Michael Nevin, Gráinne Walsh, and Regan Buckley, silver via Michaela Walsh and Harrington and gold from Walker.